Peabody Will Go Green This Earth Day

With a heightened focus on environmental issues taking a forefront in today’s society, the City of Peabody in conjunction with GreenPeabody will host GreenFest, an Earth Day celebration on April 30 at the .

The event is the first of its kind in the city, bringing together community leaders and environmental experts to educate residents in energy savings, gardening and recycling as well as other ‘green’ initiatives the can take to be more environmentally conscious in their every day lives.

“We put this together with the hopes of advancing Peabody further in to becoming a green community,” said Councilor at Large Anne Manning-Martin, who is co-chair of GreenPeabody. “We hope this can be a real kick off to educate more people in the city and increase the desire to become a more green community and to raise more awareness for our group.”

GreenPeabody, an energy and resource conservation committee, has been active in planning this event with the help of the City Council and Mayor Michael Bonfanti for over seven months. Manning-Martin, who also serves as council president, said since word has gotten out about the event, many residents and businesses have shown support and offered their time as volunteers.

“Some communities have had events like this before, but it is pretty rare on the north shore,” she said. “This has been an issue, the lack of information and initiatives in the city of Peabody, so we are eager to get this started here in the city.”

Along with having experts and energy conservation groups on hand to answer questions, the event will feature local “green” businesses discussing their products and services as well as an electronics recycling area.

For $8 residents can recycle items such as computers, televisions, printers and monitors and have hazardous materials removed. Larger appliances many also be recycled for  larger fee.

Separately, old cell phones will be collected and donated to the Safe Haven Shelter for battered women and a shoe donation box will be available for residents to donate used shoes and boots.

Visitors are also invited to participate in a plant and seed exchange where they can bring in one item from their garden and exchange with someone else for a separate item.

“The focus of the event is ‘dollars and sense,’” said co-chair Russ Eckel. “How we can save money while helping the environment and the resources around us.”

The event will take place at the community center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 30. Refreshments will be available for purchase at the event and children will be entertained at a special youth area set up by the Environmental Club and the .

Event sponsors include , , , Energi Holdings Inc. and .

For more information contact the at 978-531-0384 or visit GreenPeabody on Facebook.